Moon and Kennedy Stage Epic Pole Vault Clash, Share Gold!

Sometimes we need to remind ourselves that the sport we love is not simply “Track.”  It’s Track and field. Here are two stunning events – one a track event, the other a field event – that were standout highlights of Day Five of the 2023 World Athletics Championships.

wPV – Final:  The highlight of Day Five of the 2023 World Athletics Championships was a gripping battle in the final of the women’s pole vault.  The event started innocently enough and was seen as a contest among the USA’s seasoned performers, Katie Moon and Sandi Morris, and talented younger athletes.  It would turn out to be one of the most stirring pole vault competitions in recent memory.

Midway through the event, as the bar was lifted to 4.75m/15’7″, Morris, Slovenia’s Tina Sutej, Finland’s Wilma Murto, Australia’s Nina Kennedy, and defending champion Katie Moon all were sporting clean cards. Morris, #3 on the all-time list, had 3 misses at the new height and bowed out.

As the bar went to 4.80m/15’9″, only 6 vaulters remained.  5 of those still in the competition (Moon, Kennedy, Sutej, Great Britain’s Molly Caudery, and Switzerland’s Angelica Moser) had missed along the way – with only Murto remaining spotless. Moser was 3-and-out at 4.80m as the remaining 5 moved onward and upward.
At 4.85m/15’11”, Caudery went out.  So did Sutej, who just missed setting a new national record for Slovenia.  Murto, with no misses at this point, also went 3-and-out but was certain to win the bronze medal.  Only Kennedy and Moon – both with first-attempt clearances at 4.85m – remained and were assured of medals.  But who would get the gold?

At 4.90m16′ 3/4″, Kennedy and Moon struggled, both missing on their first two attempts.  On her 3rd attempt, a stern and focused Kennedy cleared the bar.  Now it was the defending champion’s turn.  With the pressure on, Moon – ranked #1 on the world list –  delivered, clearing the bar and bouncing off the mat with a smile of disbelief on her face.  The defending champion was enjoying this!

The bar was raised to 4.95m/16’2 3/4″ – a height cleared only by Moon and 3 other athletes in the history of the sport.  Neither Moon nor Kennedy could clear the bar.  Not eligible to proceed higher,…